How I met Jo San Diego
How I met Jo San Diego
By Joel Recla
I will share with you this story with an edifying encouragement. Most especially for those who know and are fans of Jo San Diego. Now and back then, Jo ruled the air lanes at midnight on “All Night Stand.”
Her own radio program on FM frequency, at DZMT (the Manila Times radio station), maybe fifty years ago. Now her new show “This I Like“ at DWBR 104.3 FM in Quezon City, broadcasting in the afternoon. Her velvety voice so captivating, is the reason why I was seduced listening to her. Her music and how she talked practically about anything on the air. Those were my wonderful high school days, the era of Love and Peace, the 60s.
I do remember other radio personalities at the time, such as Bessie Castañeda, Dodge Rivera, Dely Magpayo and Bar Samson. Television is another story, but I do liked Miss Laila Benitez, Tita Muñoz, Eddie Ilarde, Bobby Ledesma, Eddie Mercado and Joey Lardizabal. Maybe with the love of broadcasting, I turned out to be one, just not in my beloved city of Manila.
Jo San Diego with Eddie Ilarde
Jo San Diego is the daughter of the renown Judge Lourdes Paredes San Diego, who sentenced and ordered the execution of the four men, children of prominent and powerful families, who abducted and raped the actress Miss Maggie de La Riva in a motel in Pasay City. I did read somewhere that Jo asked her mother “ mom I thought you are not in favor of death penalty? And she replied “Darling, the Philippine Constitution dictates that rape is a capital offence and it’s punishable by death by electric chair.” The most sensational rape case ever in Manila. The actual proceedings were broadcast on national television, watched by millions of Filipinos in 1972. Now, a street in Quezon City near EDSA and Kamias Road was named after her: Judge Lourdes Paredes San Diego Avenue. And the street Miserecordia St. was changed to Justice Quintin Paredes St. The 5th Senate President, a distinguished lawyer and statesman, father of Judge Lourdes San Diego, and the grandfather of Jo San Diego.
For the past 50 years, I didn’t know where and what ever happened to Jo San Diego, but I wondered and searched the Internet (I always remember my mother used to say “Curiosity killed the cat”). Until one day while having lunch in Toronto with my good friend Pilita Corrales, she mentioned Jo San Diego to me, about an event they went to. In January 2011, when Pilita was in town for a concert that I produced for the annual Chin Picnic, Pilita said “Call her.” “I am sure she will be delighted that you used to listen to her radio show.” I was so excited and honoured to be able to talk to a legendary radio personality. So after a few months with a strong will, I finally did it. And we connected by phone and email and eventually I finally interviewed her on my own radio show “Pearl of the Orient Show” here in Toronto and from then on we talked and corresponded and now we are friends . To this time I am amused and bewildered.
I trembled at this experience for one simple reason, I may or some of us had unconsciously when we were young, we imagine or we aim at what we wanted to be or to do. With a strong will and with God cornucopia, anything will happen. To me this great experience is worth a great tranquility in my mind and peace in my heart. To all the people who have or still listen to us, in whatever shape and form, whatever we had contributed big or small, that had made our lives and our life much easier, through the power of the air.
That I feel humble.
Thank you very much people.
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